Alyssa Nace
EDC 102H F13
Dr. Fogleman
Due: September 27, 2013
My teachers and councilors from high school were, without a doubt, the people who influenced me the most. I came from a school with a high dropout rate, so though the general public might've considered us failures, the teachers and staff were always more than encouraging towards us. I have so many stories of how teachers influenced me and shaped me into who I am today that I feel sort of sorry that I can't share them all in this essay. There was one teacher and a guidance councilor that influenced me more than anyone else.
The teacher who influenced me the most was my music teacher, Mr. Raymond. I had him when I took the chorus class (3 times) and I was with him after school every Thursday from 2:30-4 for community chorus and also at almost every event or fundraiser. At first, it was a tense relationship. I was a very quiet singer because I was very conscious of my voice; I was afraid of being judged harshly by my peers for not sounding amazing (what.. an.. idiot). As my chorus teacher for the first time, he tried to make me sing alone in class to hear my voice and determine if I was an alto or soprano, and I kept refusing until I started bawling my eyes out and leaving the room. After that, Mr. Raymond was always sharing stories with me that inspired me to at least try to overcome my fear.
I got over being heard relatively quickly, but I still didn't like being loud. Mr. Raymond came up with a really good analogy that I can't remember that described how I was and what I'd eventually become, but sadly it has slipped my mind. Everyone in community chorus said that by the time senior year came, I'd be the loudest in the group. In a way, they were right; they were just a little off in the time frame. It wasn't until we decided the graduation song for my class that I figured "last year.. last chance" so I asked for some solos that I became louder. At graduation, I gave it my all.
He didn't just encourage me musically; he also liked to help academically. I didn't often need help with anything, but I had class with him more than enough times to see that he helped any student who asked for it. He'd go over proper grammar, or spelling, and even math with his students. He also would visit the students in special education and do activities with them in his free time. In doing so, he made me realize a lot about ways teachers help and influence their students; while also influencing me to want to do the same.
My guidance councilor, Mr. Jackson, also had a huge influence on me academically and as an individual. When I first met him at the "Freshman Open House" before school started, he had us shake his hand and as I did so, I thought, "I'm probably only going to see you alone about college applications... why do I need to meet you now?". Boy was I wrong. When I was going through a really rough time, I visited him on many occasions, just to talk things through. He told me that I was "a strong, smart, and capable young woman" and encouraged me to do my best in school even though my home life was in shambles. After I got through the dark times, I still went to see him sometimes, just to talk about life, with some school and college stuff thrown in.
He was really encouraging, but not your typical kind of encouraging; he was the kind we need more people to be. He advised me to come here, to URI, though he knew I really wanted to go to Providence College, because he also knew that my financial capabilities would not allow that without me getting into insane amounts of debt. We need more people like that, who understand others' capabilities and don't set them after an unattainable or unrewarding goal.
Many other teachers helped shape me into who I am today, but Mr. Raymond and Mr. Jackson had the most influence of my character, thoughts, and determination. I thank them for all their support and encouragement, for being such wonderful role models, and for making me who I am today.
EDC 102H F13
Dr. Fogleman
Due: September 27, 2013
My teachers and councilors from high school were, without a doubt, the people who influenced me the most. I came from a school with a high dropout rate, so though the general public might've considered us failures, the teachers and staff were always more than encouraging towards us. I have so many stories of how teachers influenced me and shaped me into who I am today that I feel sort of sorry that I can't share them all in this essay. There was one teacher and a guidance councilor that influenced me more than anyone else.
The teacher who influenced me the most was my music teacher, Mr. Raymond. I had him when I took the chorus class (3 times) and I was with him after school every Thursday from 2:30-4 for community chorus and also at almost every event or fundraiser. At first, it was a tense relationship. I was a very quiet singer because I was very conscious of my voice; I was afraid of being judged harshly by my peers for not sounding amazing (what.. an.. idiot). As my chorus teacher for the first time, he tried to make me sing alone in class to hear my voice and determine if I was an alto or soprano, and I kept refusing until I started bawling my eyes out and leaving the room. After that, Mr. Raymond was always sharing stories with me that inspired me to at least try to overcome my fear.
I got over being heard relatively quickly, but I still didn't like being loud. Mr. Raymond came up with a really good analogy that I can't remember that described how I was and what I'd eventually become, but sadly it has slipped my mind. Everyone in community chorus said that by the time senior year came, I'd be the loudest in the group. In a way, they were right; they were just a little off in the time frame. It wasn't until we decided the graduation song for my class that I figured "last year.. last chance" so I asked for some solos that I became louder. At graduation, I gave it my all.
He didn't just encourage me musically; he also liked to help academically. I didn't often need help with anything, but I had class with him more than enough times to see that he helped any student who asked for it. He'd go over proper grammar, or spelling, and even math with his students. He also would visit the students in special education and do activities with them in his free time. In doing so, he made me realize a lot about ways teachers help and influence their students; while also influencing me to want to do the same.
My guidance councilor, Mr. Jackson, also had a huge influence on me academically and as an individual. When I first met him at the "Freshman Open House" before school started, he had us shake his hand and as I did so, I thought, "I'm probably only going to see you alone about college applications... why do I need to meet you now?". Boy was I wrong. When I was going through a really rough time, I visited him on many occasions, just to talk things through. He told me that I was "a strong, smart, and capable young woman" and encouraged me to do my best in school even though my home life was in shambles. After I got through the dark times, I still went to see him sometimes, just to talk about life, with some school and college stuff thrown in.
He was really encouraging, but not your typical kind of encouraging; he was the kind we need more people to be. He advised me to come here, to URI, though he knew I really wanted to go to Providence College, because he also knew that my financial capabilities would not allow that without me getting into insane amounts of debt. We need more people like that, who understand others' capabilities and don't set them after an unattainable or unrewarding goal.
Many other teachers helped shape me into who I am today, but Mr. Raymond and Mr. Jackson had the most influence of my character, thoughts, and determination. I thank them for all their support and encouragement, for being such wonderful role models, and for making me who I am today.